Simulations of the Jovian Stratosphere with diabatic heating and mechanical forcing

POSTER

Abstract

The coupling of dynamical and chemical processes in the middle atmosphere of Jupiter determines the structure of mean temperatures and mean zonal winds. The Cassini flyby of Jupiter in December 2000 provided detailed information about the mean temperatures and atmospheric abundances of methane, acetylene and ethane in the Jovian atmosphere. We incorporate a two dimensional net heating rate derived from these hydrocarbons into a general circulation model (GCM) to explore the impact on the evolution of stratospheric temperatures. This thermal forcing alone does not produce agreement between the observations and model outputs, so we also investigate mechanical forcing by waves. Atmospheric waves are known to directly impact the upper troposphere and lower stratospheres of Earth and Jupiter. Since there is not enough observational evidence to completely characterize the source spectrum in Jupiter, we implement a gravity wave drag parameterization in the GCM following Friedson (1999). This consists of a flat source spectrum of waves and dissipation mechanism like that by Lindzen and Holton (1968). We present the results obtained by using both a heating forcing derived from remote sensing observations and a mechanical forcing by waves on the Jovian stratosphere.

Authors

  • Richard Cosentino

    New Mexico Tech

  • Norm Buchanan

    Brigham Young University, Stanford University, University of Central Florida, NCAR/High Altitude Observatory, Arizona Vitro-retinal consultants, University of Michigan, Arizona State University, University of Denver, Arizona State University Dept of Physics, Arizona State University Dept of Chemistry and Biochemistry, LASP, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for Atmospheric and Space Science, Utah State University, Dixie State College, Utah, USU Materials Physics Group, UVU Physics Department, Box Elder Innovations, Space Telescope Science Institute, Northern Kentucky University, Retired, Utah Valley University, Univ. of California, Los Angelos, Colorado State University, St. Petersburg Electro-technical University, Universidad Nacional Aut\'onoma de M\'exico, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, University of Wurtzberg, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, LANL, UCLA, Max-planck-Institut f\"{u}r Astronomie, W. M. Keck Observatory, University of Arizona, Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, IBM Systems and Technology Group, IBM Research Division, T.J. Watson Research Center, Sandia National Laboratory, NMSU, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland, James Franck Institute and Department of Physics, University of Chicago, Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Washington, JISAO, University of Washington, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, NorthWest Research Associates, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Utah State University, New Mexico Tech, University of Cambridge, Los Alamos National Laboratory, RAPTOR Science, Institute of Space and Astronomical Science, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, Weber State University, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, BYU Physics, Physics Department, University of Arizona, ABQMR, University of Colorado at Boulder, SNL and CINT, Los Alamos National Lab, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of Arizona, Center for Quantum Information and Control, University of New Mexico, University of Calgary, Colorado School of Mines